Delaware
Today in Delaware County history, May 24
100 Years Ago, 1924: Complaints about a crowd of boys who have been destroying property at Smedley Field, Seventh and Lloyd streets, has led Chief Vance to instruct officers to make an investigation and arrest any and all youths found damaging the fence surrounding the ball park or equipment within the enclosure. As a result of the destructive practices of boys during the winter months, the officials of the Chester baseball club were compelled to expend several hundred dollars for repairs to the fence, stands and dressing rooms preceding the opening of the baseball season.
75 Years Ago, 1949: City Council today flashed the go-ahead signal on a proposal to construct a new headquarters for Chester Police Department by empowering Vincent F. Sanbe, director of parks and public property, to employ two well-known realtors to appraise a prospective site. Sanbe declined to identify the location, but he disclosed that it was vacant ground on which a new structure would be raised. He said James P. Hopkins and William P. Lear will study the site to determine its value before negotiations are started.
50 Years Ago, 1974: Guard dogs managed by trained handlers could be patrolling the perimeter of Delaware County Prison on an around-the-clock basis by the end of summer. So could two-man teams of correctional officers armed with high-powered rifles on motor patrol. The proposals are two of several recommendations made by new Prison Superintendent Edward C. Leiby and tentatively approved by the prison board.
25 Years Ago, 1999: Media borough operations are about to become that much simpler with authorization of the agreement to sell the sewer company. Little Washington Waste Water Company, a subsidiary of Philadelphia Suburban Water, has offered a total package worth in excess of $4 million in cash, bond payments and lease of borough land at the treatment plant. Rather than being an asset, the operations were becoming a concern due increasing federal regulations, capital needs and environmental issues.
10 Years Ago, 2014: Receiving the support of state Rep. Margo Davidson, D-164, of Upper Darby, Matt Silva announced his candidacy Saturday for Upper Darby Democratic chair against incumbent Ed Bradley. His announcement comes four days after Davidson won a close primary against Lansdowne attorney Billy Smith by 11 percentage points. The day after the election, the state representative said the county Democratic chair David Landau has not done anything to unify the party. She had contrasting words about Silva on Saturday. “I believe very strongly that Matt is going to be a transformative leader here in Upper Darby,” she said.
— COLIN AINSWORTH
Drivers without E-ZPass would be billed by mail at a higher rate.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026 4:36AM
NEW CASTLE, Del. (WPVI) — The Delaware Memorial Bridge is set to go all-electronic, eliminating cash collections.
The twin-span bridge connects New Castle, Delaware, and Pennsville, New Jersey.
Drivers without E-ZPass would be billed by mail at a higher rate.
The transition is set to happen by late 2029 or early 2030.
The Delaware River and Bay Authority has allocated $34 million for the project as part of a $161 million capital improvement plan.
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Delaware officials tout tourism, watch parties for 2026 FIFA World Cop
Officials announced that the state will host four watch parties across Delaware for this summer’s World Cup. 2/12/26
Delaware resident DJ Jazzy Jeff, the same Grammy winner who played Will Smith’s bestie on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” sitcom, will bring the First State to Philadelphia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer.
The West Philly native – best known for teaming up with Will Smith and forming the 1980s dynamic duo DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – is an official FIFA music ambassador for the World Cup.
DJ Jazzy Jeff (Jeffrey Allen Townes) lives in Bear, and he produced a Social ID (or branded music) that soccer fans will hear when FIFA games are broadcast from Philly at Lincoln Financial Field (home of the Philadelphia Eagles) from June 14 to July 4. (The entire FIFA World Cup tournament runs from June 11 to July 19.).
DJ Jazzy Jeff talks FIFA World Cup 2026 music: ‘It’s an honor’
FIFA teamed up with influential producers from well over a dozen host cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada to tie the soccer tournament to each city’s culture, giving World Cup fans and visitors a preview with a taste of audio flavor for each place they’ll experience before these games.
Philly is one of the World Cup host cities across the U.S., and Jazzy Jeff collaborated with Philadelphia Soccer 2026, the nonprofit organization that is the operational host committee tasked with planning and delivering the World Cup to Philly this summer.
Fans will be able to download the Social IDs on Apple, Spotify, and other platforms, according to FIFA.
“Music has the power to bring people together and transport them to a specific time and place. My hope is that this Sonic ID is representative of the experience of Philadelphia, inside a stadium packed to the brim with passionate fans,” the Firefly Music Festival alum said in a 2025 statement. “It’s an honor to be part of the FIFA World Cup 26™ journey and I can’t wait for the world to feel the energy of Philly in 2026!”
Music from the Social ID Jazzy Jeff and other artists delivered will be played in stadiums, during broadcasts, across digital platforms throughout the tournament, and at FIFA Fan Festivals, which are entertainment hubs for watch parties and performances.
“DJ Jazzy Jeff has shaped the sound of Philadelphia for the last 40 years and we’re proud to capture a piece of that legacy in our Host City Sonic ID,” Meg Kane, host city executive/CEO for Philadelphia Soccer 2026, said in a 2025 statement.
While DJ Jazzy Jeff’s social ID was announced in early 2025, his music is going to get renewed interest since Delaware officially announced its partnership with Philly Soccer 2026 on Feb. 12, which includes the state’s plans to attract tourism for the FIFA World Cup.
How many people will watch the FIFA World Cup 2026?
The FIFA World Cup is the largest sporting event on Earth. Over 3 billion are expected to tune into this summer’s World Cup final, which will be played July 19 at neighboring New Jersey at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, temporarily renamed New York New Jersey Stadium.
While the recent Super Bowl 60 peaked at 137.8 million viewers, the last World Cup in 2022 drew over 1.4 billion spectators.
How many people will visit Delaware for FIFA World Cup 2026?
More than 100,000 hotel rooms are expected to be booked in the tri-state region (Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey), along with over 500,000 visitors to the region. The economic impact this summer is estimated at nearly $800 million, Kane said.
Delaware will host a FIFA World Cup 2026 team
Gov. Matt Meyer announced at a Feb. 12 tourism event that Delaware is bringing the World Cup to the Small Wonder, but he didn’t reveal which team at the time.
One of the club teams will lodge in the state, while the team practices at the Philadelphia Union’s Subaru Park stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania.
“There’s never been a [Delaware] governor who can stand up and say that the World Cup is coming here,” Meyer said at the event held at the Hyatt Place Wilmington/Riverfront. “We’re very excited about that, bringing … a place of the world’s best here to Delaware.”
If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@gannett.com. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.
Ever wonder what’s inside Dover’s Legislative Hall? Let’s take a look
Delaware’s Legislative Hall has served as the state’s capitol building since the 1930s. Here’s a look inside those hallowed halls.
Former House Rep. John Viola passed away, according to a social media post from his daughter and a statement from Delaware House Democrats.
Viola represented parts of Newark and Bear from 1998 until the time he left office in 2020. He was 75 years old.
His daughter Andria Bennett, who is also a former state representative, posted about Viola’s death on Facebook on Feb. 15, saying, “my best friends, my favorite person, my safe place, my ride or die, MY JV left us and my heath is absolutely shattered.”
House Democratic leadership released a statement on Sunday afternoon remembering Viola as a “dedicated public servant in every sense of the word.” The statement referenced his time in Dover, in the Air Force and as a volunteer firefighter.
“Whether in Legislative Hall or in everyday life, John showed up every day with the same purpose: to help people and make life a little better for others,” the statement by Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, Majority Leader Kerri Evelyn Harris, and Majority Whip Ed Osienski said.
Viola himself served as House Majority Whip from 2013 to 2017. He lost a primary election in 2020 to current Rep. Madinah Wilson-Anton by 43 votes.
He and his daughter, Bennett, were the first father and daughter to serve in the state House of Representatives at the same time.
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